2fm

My luckiest career break may well have been a literal one. It happened 40 years ago this month. I could be a very happy headmaster somewhere now if it hadn't happened. Though I suspect my break really was for the best.

Mistakes, I’ve made a few, but then again, too many not to mention…
With apologies to Ol’ Blue Eyes and Paul Anka, I was reminded the other week of one the many both major and minor cock-ups that have littered my media career to date.

The debut Off Message podcast, featuring the media-related wit and wisdom of RTÉ 2fm's music-and-movie-mad Dave Fanning.
Over the course of our chat Dave reminisces about his almost completely accidental career journey; how his RTÉ career hasn't exactly gone to plan; whether he'd ever ask U2 the hard questions; his unconventional advice for succeeding in the media world, and at a typical Fanning rate of knots, of course much, much more.

Real honesty in the media is a rare thing.
I don’t mean in its coverage and output.
No, I’m talking about the honesty of those of us lucky enough to work in the business when we're discussing in public the day-to-day workings of our job.
And my blogposts to date prove I'm as guilty as anyone else.

When freelancing work dries up (or at least goes eerily quiet for a while) you’re forced to get your pitching mojo back on.
Which is where I’m at right now, partially because of Brexit, surprisingly enough.
And whatever the outcomes it’s the waiting that kills you.

As I left RTÉ last week at the end of another long run there I was very aware that I hadn’t a gig lined up to go to anywhere else anytime soon.
Oddly I wasn't too worried, which as a freelancer is a very weird feeling.